SMD Cosmetics Blog

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They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What one person sees as attractive is often completely different than what someone else thinks. This is especially true when comparing the specific ideals of female beauty across different countries. The beauty standards set by the society we live in have tremendous influence on the styles and trends we are drawn to.

Here is an interesting example: In America, we see tan skin as beautiful. We strip down and have our bodies sprayed and contoured to get a golden glow. By comparison, a creamy complexion is considered beautiful in many parts of Asia. Japanese women often wear long sleeves and hats to the beach to keep their skin fair. When we are inundated with images of bronzed celebrities and ads for self-tanning products, it is easy to forget the same trend might not be as popular in other parts of the world.

In the past few years there have been some fascinating experiments done to see how the rest of the globe interprets beauty. In one, a journalist sent a photo of her face to freelancers in over 25 countries and asked them to make her look beautiful. A similar experiment had female graphic designers in 18 different countries Photoshop the image of a woman into the “ideal” body type according to the beauty standards where they live. In both experiments, all of the photos look vastly different from one another.

Comparisons like these fuel our fascination with global beauty trends. Why is plastic surgery so popular in South Korea? How do French women pull off an effortlessly gorgeous look? Here is a peek at how beauty is perceived and what cosmetic procedures are trending in six different parts of the world.

South Korea

The desire for a milky, smooth complexion is also popular in other parts of Asia, including South Korea. While pale skin was originally a signifier of wealth and prestige, the desire for white skin is now associated with youthfulness. The first signs of aging on Asian skin is pigmentation, not wrinkles, so men and women use beauty products with whitening agents to appear as light and ageless as possible. These beauty products, known as K-beauty in the global market, are focused on health and hydration (we can thank South Korea for sheet face masks). It is about nourishing your skin so you look incredible with little to no makeup. Korean beauty consumers favor a dewy, glowing complexion with textured, yet natural eyebrows. Beauty trends lean towards soft, earth toned eye shadow and natural lips with lightly tinted color.

In South Korea, having big, wide eyes is also considered beautiful. Every year, thousands of young people undergo double eyelid surgery to make their eyes appear larger. The procedure was the third most popular cosmetic surgery worldwide in 2016, when more than 1.3 million operations were reported.

When it comes to going under the knife, nowhere in Asia is plastic surgery more popular than South Korea. The research company Gallup Korea found that roughly one in three Korean women between the ages of 19 and 29 said they had cosmetic surgery. In addition to double eyelid surgery, jaw reduction is another popular procedure and is used to slim the chin and create the highly desired “V” face shape. In Korean culture, it is not uncommon for women to undergo rhinoplasty to make the nose bridge appear higher and more pronounced.

Despite the prevalence of plastic surgery in South Korea, the desired aesthetic is not to appear overly “done.” Rather, a woman undergoes a series of small and subtle operations to look different from everyone else – a more beautiful version of herself.

France

French ideals of beauty are imperfect, laid-back, and undone. In France, women believe the notion of beauty should be pleasing to oneself above all, and that the most beautiful women are the ones who look effortlessly gorgeous. Rather than using irritating skincare products, crash dieting, and plastic surgery to make themselves feel beautiful, women in Paris prioritize pleasure and love their bodies as they are.

When it comes to maintaining a flawless complexion, the French base their beauty routines on prevention, rather than quick fixes. Women take care of their skin from a young age using beauty routines and secrets passed down from their mothers and grandmothers. However, the French’s unfussy attitude towards beauty does not mean plastic surgery is off the table.

According to the most recent Global Aesthetic Survey released by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), breast augmentation is the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure in France. Eyelid surgery is also common, listed as the number one facial cosmetic operation. Hyaluronic acid and Botulinum Toxin (BOTOX®) are the most common non-surgical procedures among French women.

Brazil

When we think about Brazilian beauty standards, the Brazilian Butt Lift and barely-there waxes are the first things that come to mind. This South American country is obsessed with beauty and being attractive is perceived as crucial to getting a job and finding a partner. In fact, beauty is such a central part of life in Brazil that plastic surgery is free or low-cost in public hospitals. This intense longing to be beautiful has made Brazil the second most popular country for plastic surgery with more than 2.5 million procedures performed in 2016.

The most popular plastic surgery in Brazil is liposuction, which is closely followed by breast augmentation. Abdominoplasty (also known as tummy tuck) and breast lift round out the top procedures in the country. The popularity of these body-sculpting surgeries is telling. Brazilians feel extreme pressure to have a perfect figure they can flaunt in a bikini. Women are even going as far as to have liposuction of the toes in pursuit of a flawless body.

When it comes to cosmetics, Brazilian women take a more natural approach. Brazil is a tropical country – it is hot and humid all year round – so a full face of makeup would instantly melt off. Brazilian beauty is based on a personal care routine that puts skincare front and center. Sunscreen is a must, as are beauty products with natural ingredients like coconut oil.

United States

It is somewhat hard to pinpoint the beauty standards in America since there is such a variety of cultures and races. And, what is considered beautiful has changed dramatically over the past few decades. In the ‘90s, the beauty standards were to be tall, thin, and fair-skinned. Beauty brands had complete control over what defined beauty. However, according to research by Mintel, the beauty industry is changing. Men and women are starting to embrace their imperfections and take control of how beauty is defined. Today, the confidence that comes from accepting and loving one’s body is considered beautiful.

While the body-positive movement is gaining momentum, there is still pressure to achieve the perfect figure. The Kardashians have set the bar high with tiny waists, voluptuous curves, and full lips – beauty trends that are unattainable for most women without cosmetic procedures. Perhaps that is part of the reason why the United States racked up the most plastic surgeries out of every country in the world. From New York to Los Angeles, a whopping 4.2 million operations were performed in 2016.

Breast augmentation is the most popular plastic surgery in the U.S., followed by liposuction. More than 1.1 million Americans received BOTOX® to decrease the appearance of wrinkles and prevent future signs of aging.

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Additional moisture helps, but you need to do more to actually counteract these effects and keep skin looking youthful and smooth. To reduce chapping, redness, itching, and keep skin more healthy and comfortable this season, try these tips.

1. Wash in Lukewarm Water

2. Moisturize Immediately Afterwards

Your skin not only needs more moisture, but moisture right after you wash. Applying moisture to damp skin helps seal that dampness into the skin.

4. Protect

Also, don’t forget the sunscreen. Winter sun can be just as damaging as summer sun.

5. Humidify

6. Drink

We tend to drink less water in the winter because we turn to hot drinks like cocoa and tea, but don’t forget that your skin needs hydration from the inside, out. A little warm water with lemon can be very refreshing and hydrating at the same time.

7. Overnight Moisturize

9. Avoid Toxins, Specifically Allergens and Irritants

10. Hydrate From the Inside Out

Eating foods high in water content can help hydrate your skin from the inside out. Try watermelon, cantaloupe, apples, oranges, kiwi, and watery veggies like celery, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, and carrots. Make sure you’re getting enough vitamin C and zinc to support the healthy production of collagen and elastin.

11. Change Your Cleanser

Cleansers can be extremely drying to the skin. If you’re used to using options that contain glycolic or salicylic acid, rotate with a more hydrating version that contains moisturizing ingredients. Try our Cleansing Oil which leaves your skin with essential oils and nutrients.

Date

November 19 2018

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SMD Cosmetics

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How can you keep your neck looking young? Signs of aging such as crepey skin, uneven skin tone, and sagging show up sooner on parts of the body that haven’t been shielded from the sun. This is especially true for the neck and chest because we tend to neglect applying a daily SPF 30 or greater on those areas. Do you need a special neck cream? Absolutely not!

The truth is that buying a separate product for these areas is unnecessary and more often than not a total waste of money. Surprisingly these products rarely contain ingredients that can help improve the signs of aging or they come in jars, and appallingly they almost never contain sunscreen!

Anything you use on your face you can use on your neck! We use all of our products on our neck. When you are applying skin care just use what you are using on your face for our neck at the same time, that goes for sunscreen too. Skin anywhere on your body requires the same types of beneficial ingredients as your face—skin-replenishing ingredients, antioxidants, soothing agents, skin-restoring ingredients, and sunscreen during the day to delay the appearance of aging skin! If you are having issues with an aging neck then use your anti-aging skin care products there are well. If you have some skin discoloration issues on your neck then use the brightening skin care products.

There’s absolutely no research showing the neck or chest needs special ingredients! So rest assured your investment for your face also works on your neck, but definitely don't skip that area of skin.

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If you’re a K-beauty addict, you’ve most likely looked at your beauty products with snail mucin and asked yourself this question: How does snail mucin get into beauty products? Here’s your answer.

From repairing skin damage and providing anti-aging benefits to soothing irritated skin and fading acne scars, snail mucin, or snail secretion filtrate, offers so many benefits. It’s truly a versatile ingredient, suitable for all skin types and concerns, and plays well with other ingredients. Studies have shown that snail mucin even helps with atopic dermatitis.

In fact, even before snail mucin became popular as a skin care ingredient, the main component of snail mucin, Chondroiton sulfate, was recognized for its ability to help improve arthritis, liver diseases, nephritis, and fatigue.

But have you ever wondered where snail mucin comes from? You might be thinking that snails are plucked from their natural habitats and forced to produce mucin, which eventually ends up in pretty packaging on store shelves. Or you might have assumed that snail mucin is artificially created in a petri dish and then mass produced to meet the high demand for snail mucin. The answer is none of the above. Read on for the scoop.

Who collects the snail mucin?

Cosmetics companies can be roughly divided into three categories: one that manufactures the raw materials, one that creates products using those materials, and lastly, one that sells the final products. Snail mucin is created by companies that make the raw materials, which in the case of Cosrx, one brand with popular snail products, is CoSeedBioPharm Co.

Each manufacturer has its own know-how’s when it comes to collecting snail mucin, but what is common among them is the fact that they need to create an environment that’s comfortable for the snails and allow them have adequate rest to optimize mucin production.

SMD Cosmetics, for example, keeps their snails under the care of farmers in Chile who, the brand says, “help the snails move at a slow rate to stimulate healthy and safe levels of secretion”.

What kinds of snails are used?

Because snail mucin products are applied topically, only edible snails are used in skin care products. Popular edible snail species are the Roman snail (Helix pomatia), the common ingredient for escargot, and its close relative the garden snail or petit-gris (Helix aspersa).

Cosrx’s manufacturer uses another edible species called the giant African snail (Achatina fulica). They are larger, with shells that grow up to four inches in diameter, and their mucin has been tested to be safe for topical use. These snails are grown in captivity, since they are more sanitary than those found in the wild.

How is snail mucin collected?

For Cosrx products, snails are placed over a mesh net in a dark and quiet room. As nocturnal creatures, the snails prefer this environment. For about 30 minutes, the snails are left alone to freely roam the net, leaving mucin in their trails.

Throughout the process, there is no external stress applied to the snails or the mesh net to force mucin production. This is due to two reasons. First, animal testing is illegal in Korea, and animal abuse is a huge topic that has sparked many controversies. Second, optimal mucin production occurs when snails are well-rested and comfortable in their habitat, which is why Cosrx’s manufacturer tries their best to make sure that the snails are healthy and comfortable.

After 30 minutes, the snails are transferred back to their homes to rest and regain energy while the mucin is collected and processed for cosmetic use. The collected mucin is then processed to properly stabilize the product and make it suitable for cosmetic use before being sent over to Cosrx.

How does the quality of snail mucin differ among products?

Insofar as Chondroitin sulfate is the main component of snail mucin, the general benefits of snail mucin are the same across the board. The real difference comes down to the formulation of the product.

The Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, for instance, contains 96% snail mucin, which means snail mucin appears first in the ingredient list. There are 11 other ingredients in the product, all designed to maximize the benefits of snail mucin. The snail mucin in this essence is also processed to leave your skin tacky, a feeling many Korean skin care fans love, without being unpleasantly sticky.

SMD Cosmetics’ beloved Saromae Snail Serum Concentrate contains 62% snail mucin from the Helix aspersa snail (enough to be highly effective, but not too much to make the product feel slimy) combined with active botanicals like licorice root to brighten and peony root to fight free radicals and to prevent signs of aging.

Then, Benton combined the power of snail mucin and bee venom (which reduces inflammation from issues like acne and plumps and firms skin for a more youthful appearance) in its Snail Bee High Content Steam Cream.

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Since there's such an emphasis on "whitening" or "porcelain, glowing" skin in Korean culture, many women of color are hesitant to give said products a try. Or even Caucasian women are wondering will these products work on my skin? The concerns are valid. You'd never want to be mislead into thinking that your daily moisturizer is secretly stripping your skin of its precious melanin!

The emphasis on "whitening" or "brightening" is often misunderstood and deters women from trying the products. This is a misnomer.

Due to factors such as sun exposure, stress and just living here on good ‘ol planet Earth, our skin can begin to experience hyper-pigmentation or our complexions can start to look a bit dull – hello freckles, sun spots, and acne scars.

The ingredients, such as vitamin C, licorice-root extract or mulberry extract, in these brightening products help to gently break down the melanin clusters that cause unwanted freckles or spots and even out the skin tone by getting rid of dead skin cells by helping the skin renew itself.

Unlike true whitening products these creams, lotions and serums do not contain a bleaching agent that strip pigmentation from the skin. Most are made with all natural ingredients. That means that the majority of these cleansers, creams and serums are safe to use daily and by anyone, no matter your skin color, looking to fade dark spots, scars, or even out their skin tone. And not only that it works on any type of skin no matter what ethnicity they are.

In the end, everyone's skin has different needs that are not only affected by their hormones, genetics and environment, but also their diet. There's no magic formula that is a one-size-fits-all solution to skin care. What I aim to do however is let ALL women know that Korean beauty is much more inclusive than we think. I also want to see all my other melanin sisters and brothers looking like Angelina Jolie, and let's be real, if you don't have Angelina money, at the very least, start investing in a skincare routine that works. And for the love of all things good, please, please, wear sunscreen! If it can melt a glacier, it can affect your skin!

So get started! What are you waiting for?

Date

February 26 2018

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SMD Cosmetics

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Or maybe the title should be how I got my (non-famous) body ready for the red carpet and Oscar parties!

The big stars have literally been getting ready(and fabulous)since January and February. Then I am told “hey we are going to an Oscar party”so I need to be ready in a dress standing next to those god-like creatures. But as Julie Roberts says "It takes 17 people...well, 15 to 17 people,” Roberts revealed. “It takes a village. It really does.” So just to give you my personal favorites to gettingready for an event like this.

Exercise is a must for shapely arms and a fit physique, so at this point I am turning it up at the gym and also trying out some new activities to shock my body. Some good old fashion cardio always leads to glowing skin even if you can't shed 10 pounds in a week.

Stars also need about a month of lead time if Botox or fillers are part of their beauty plan,and about 60-70% of them are doing it. If you aren't into doing those types of treatments and want a more natural look,then I recommend really paying attention to your skincare and bringing that up a notch. This isn't the time to dive into new products, so hopefully you already have some amazing products on hand. I personally like to add in a sheet mask with Aloe Vera for 20 minutes, some natural carrot eye collagen masks, and a rice scrub twice a week. Other than that I am sticking to my SMD Inhyunjin toner, Alogel, essence, eye cream, emulsion, snail serum, and night cream.

One will always experience complexion benefits of healthy eating and exercise, along with drinking lots of water and getting enough sleep. Stay away from alcohol, which can cause general puffiness. We know B12 helps break down alcohol, so that is an option too. Some people are fans of vitamin injections, but I personally haven't tried any.

There are also many natural ways of flushing out your body. The dandelion tea is a brilliant diuretic that helps to prevent water retention and flushes out toxins. Even adding in some lemon into your water by using real lemons or an organic lemon natural oil is amazing. Stay away from sugar and salt a week before the event as well...helps reduce water retention. If you have time to go to the spa and do a steam and massage I highly recommend that for calming the nerves and moving the fluids out of your body.

Other than that, be healthy, smile and have fun!! You only live once.

Date

February 23 2018

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SMD Cosmetics

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If you consider eye cream the final step of your skincare routine, you may want to rethink its order in your lineup to take full advantage of its efficacy. Your eye cream should be applied first, before moisturizer and serum as opposed to after. Don't worry—we've been doing it all wrong, too.

The eye area is very thin and you want to make sure that the eye cream penetrates deeply into the skin to get maximum benefits, since moisturizers are usually thicker. Makes sense, and considering that the formula has a smaller molecular structure than the rest of your products, you're going to want to ensure each of those molecules make contact accordingly.

Avoid pulling or tugging motions on the delicate under-eye area, and instead, pick up a small amount and dab it on with a light tapping motion. This helps your skin hold the product better. Eye cream should be applied by gently tapping the cream onto the lower eyelid skin starting at the inner corner and moving outward around the crow's feet.

Give your eye cream about a minute (or longer, if possible) to absorb before you put makeup on top of it. That way, your powder or concealer won't cake up from the extra emollient base in the eye cream.

Date

February 19 2018

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SMD Cosmetics

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When it comes to Korean skin care, more is more. (Heard of the exhaustive ten-step routine that Korean women follow daily?) If you don't quite have the time (or money) for this kind of multi-step process, you're in luck. Here are some quick tips that every woman can follow!

Always Follow the 10-Second Rule

After you take a shower, you're supposed to apply your toner within 10 seconds. The faster you can lock in that moisture and keep your skin protected, the better...same goes for moisturizer.

Wear Protective Accessories (Even When You Aren't at the Beach)

Korean women take a preventative approach to aging at a very young age, whereas women in the U.S. tend to wait until they see that first line or wrinkle. Not only should using SPF be ingrained, but you should also take protective measures against the sun year round.

Moisturize Every Day and Night

The best times to moisturize are right after you get out of the shower and right before you go to bed.

Hydrate - in Every Way Possible

Every skin expert emphasizes the importance of hydration. Choose products (cleansing, moisturizing, and anti-aging) that have hydrating formulas. And, of course, drink around eight glasses of water a day. Good luck with that! I am personally now using a bottle that measures out my water intake by the hour!

Exfoliate a Few Times a Week

We lose 50 million skin cells a day, and without a little extra nudge, they may hang around leaving the skin looking dead. To fight this, you should choose a product that is pH neutral so it doesn't dry as it exfoliates. Also you don’t need to use sandpaper to exfoliate, in fact we encourage you not to do thatas it will aggravate those with sensitive skin.

Don’t Just Eat Your Vitamins

A balanced diet is important, but there's more than one way to give your skin vitamins. There are also topical antioxidants, which are serums and creams that contain ingredients that nourish the skin. These can really help to repair the skin from sun damage and they also have natural sunscreen properties. Not sure how to use them? The best time to apply them is right after cleansing, or they can be layered under your sunscreen for added protection.

Sleep Well

It's not just about getting eight hours a night. Getting uninterrupted sleep that’s not alcohol induced isalways a good way to go!

Maintain a Healthy Diet

Your skin has a natural barrier to retain moisture, and essential to that is omega-3 fatty acid. Flax seeds on your salad or even walnuts will be an instant boost to your omega-3, thus increasing your skin's ability to hold onto moisture. And be sure to eat a diet low in foods with a high glycemic index (simple and complex carbohydrates).

Date

January 31 2018

Written By

SMD Cosmetics

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Is a man's skin really that different? I didn't so when I first thought about it, but after much research on the topic and education by some of the experts I know understand men's skin much more! So here is the low down understanding men's skin.

Men, just like women, deal with issues like aging, pigmentation, sensitivity, and acne. However, just as there are keen differences between the skin conditions of men and women, every man’s skin is as unique as his fingerprint. His skin health is shaped not only by his genes, but also by his lifestyle choices. A 20-year-old surfer’s skin is different than a 50 year-old businessman’s skin and will require different targeted products.

The biggest difference between male and female skin is due to the male sex hormones known collectively as androgens. We know that the thickness of the skin varies with the location, age and sex of the individual. Additionally, androgens (i.e. testosterone), which cause an increase in skin thickness, accounts for why a man’s skin is about 25 percent thicker than that of a woman’s. A man’s skin also thins gradually with age, whereas the thickness of a woman’s skin remains constant until about the age of fifty. After menopause, her skin will thin significantly, which will continue as she ages. Yikes!!! Ok back to men.

Regardless of age, men have a higher collagen density than women; this is the ratio of collagen to the thickness of the skin. Researchers believe that the higher collagen density accounts for why women appear to age faster than men of the same age which is just so not fair! When considering intrinsic (genetically-programmed) aging of the skin, it has been said that women are about 15 years older than men of the same age. Of course, the role of daylight exposure in skin aging, combined with the fact that men do not use sunscreen as often as women, may account for why we do not readily notice. Extrinsic aging from UV radiation can add years to a man’s skin and negate the benefit of slower intrinsic aging. Use SPF men!

The health of a man’s skin is, of course, just as important as that of a woman. But while treatment for a man sometimes differs from a woman, remember that the same amount of care must be taken regardless of the sex of the client. Even if the man appears to have tough, resilient skin, he may still have internal issues or surround himself in environments that sensitize him and never assume that a man needs any less gentle care than a woman. We that in mind SMD Cosmetics has many male customers using a wide range of the products. The most popular for men tend to be Saromae Snail Serum, AloGel, and Saromae entire collection.

Date

December 21 2017

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SMD Cosmetics

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The weather outside may be dry and frightful but your skin doesn’t have to be! So how do we deal with these changes…because I can tell you I am already noticing I need to change things up here in California! It’s dry and my skin is saying yikes!

Start moisturizing from the inside out! Happy hydrated skin begins by drinking the recommended eight ounce of glasses of water per day. And if you are anything like me and really struggle with this drink tea, some Kombucha, natural flavored water, whatever you can! I personally love slicing a lime or lemon and adding it to a cold glass of water.

Next, prepare your skin through exfoliation! Exfoliating helps keep the top layer of your skin as fresh as possible and ready to absorb product. It’s a myth that you need harsh beaded products to exfoliate so please be kind to your skin. No rubbing the skin raw or taking a wash cloth and scrubbing skin off! It actually causes more harm than good. Instead use exfoliating ingredients to promote dermal freshness. Look for products with Vitamin C or glycerin. Both SMD’s Toners,SaromaeandInhyunjinare excellent choices! The Saromae Radiance line is packed with Vitamin C, E and F…these vitamins help with anti-aging, brightening, and healthier skin amount other benefits. So exfoliate and PH balance your skin with one of these amazing toners. Love them!

Finally moisturize skin from the outside in. Moisturizer is important year-round, and particularly in winter with the skin is extra dry from the elements. I like to double up with my serums and moisturizer at this time of year. Your skin needs moisturizer twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. If you can get your hands on one of these ampoules, which come in the SMD sets, layer one of those bad boys on for a skin crisis week like I am having.

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you go without sunscreen…no, no! Always use sunscreen 30 SPF or higher daily. Please find an organic or natural sunscreen, this is sitting on your face ALL day.

In the evening finish off with a rich night cream that repairs your skin overnight. Again consider what you are putting on your face since it will be sitting on your skin for an entire evening which is why I believe it’s so important to stick with safe and non-toxic products. It’s a myth that we need chemicals to change our skin…the skin industry wants you to believe that, but it’s simply not true.

The most common mistake is to use too many different products with different ingredients, which irritate the skin and can cause perioral dermatitis. It is important to look at the ingredients and to make sure they are beneficial to the skin before using a product. The quality of the skin is strongly dependent on its regeneration process, which starts at 11 pm. It is highly recommended to avoid a lifestyle with too little sleep and a poor diet. My go to is theInhyunjin Night Repair Cream. The product lasts forever and has some of the most amazing natural Asian herbs on this planet!